Can you mount a TV in an apartment? Yes. This NYC guide covers wall types, building permissions, landlord rules, and pro tips for every apartment type.
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Best TV Mount Height for Bedrooms
Yes, you can mount a TV in any NYC apartment — plaster, concrete, drywall, or NYCHA. The key is using the right anchoring method for your wall type. We've mounted 5,000+ TVs across all five boroughs and NJ. Book online and we handle everything including building COIs.
Mounting a TV in a NYC apartment is one of those things that sounds straightforward until you actually start doing it. The walls are different, the rules are different, and the stakes are higher — both for your security deposit and for the structural integrity of walls that may be 100 years old.
This guide covers everything you need to know before putting a TV on the wall in your NYC apartment, from building permissions to wall types to the practical realities of getting a clean install in a small space. After mounting over 5,000 TVs across all five boroughs and northern New Jersey, we've seen every wall type, every building rule, and every landlord concern there is.
Short answer: Most buildings allow TV mounting — it's one of the most common apartment modifications in NYC.
Rentals: Most landlords are fine with it. A TV mount leaves 4 to 6 holes in the wall, all easily patchable with spackle when you move out. Check your lease for any language about "alterations," but in practice, TV mounting is rarely an issue.
Co-ops and condos: Some buildings require a COI (certificate of insurance) from whoever does the work. That's about it. Send us your building's COI template and we'll send back a completed certificate — we carry general liability and umbrella insurance. We've completed over 5,000 jobs and have never been rejected from a building.
If your building requires permission, get it. But don't overthink it — this is a standard modification that buildings see every day. Book your appointment and let us know your building's requirements.
This is the most critical part of the entire process. NYC apartment walls are not like walls in the rest of the country, and using the wrong mounting approach for your wall type is how TVs end up on the floor.
If your building was constructed before World War II, your walls are almost certainly plaster over wood lath. This is one of the most common wall types in NYC pre-war buildings.
What to expect: Pre-war buildings have plaster over wood lath.
Mounting approach: For drywall, use a Zircon deep scanner stud finder to locate studs. For plaster: find studs inside the plaster or use toggle bolts through the wooden lath. Once studs are located, use lag bolts to anchor into the wood studs. Magnets do NOT work for finding studs in plaster walls — that trick only works on drywall.
Can you mount a TV on plaster walls? Absolutely — plaster over wood lath is actually very strong when you anchor into the studs. The key is finding the studs correctly, which is where most DIY attempts go wrong.
Some post-war buildings have concrete or cinder block walls. Most people confuse cement or plaster walls with concrete — true concrete is usually only external or structural walls.
Mounting approach: You need the right drill and the right drill bit. Use a hammer drill with carbide-tipped masonry bits. Anchor with concrete screws or sleeve anchors.
If you live in a NYCHA apartment, your walls are almost always cement or cinder block. The important thing to know: you need a fixed (flat) mount only, and the maximum TV size is 75 inches. Full-motion or articulating mounts put too much leverage on concrete anchors and can pull out over time. A flat mount distributes the load evenly and holds securely. The walls are only about 2 inches thick, so there's less material for anchors to grip — which is why the right mount type and hardware matter even more here.
We mount TVs in NYCHA apartments regularly — book online and mention your building type in the notes so we bring the right masonry hardware.
New construction and gut renovations in NYC typically use drywall (sheetrock) over light-gauge metal studs. This is what you'll find in:
What to expect: The walls feel lighter and hollow compared to plaster or concrete. A knock test will sound distinctly different from the solid thud of plaster.
Mounting approach: Metal studs are tricky — they're hollow and flex under load. Use toggle bolts (SnapToggle brand recommended) or through-bolt systems. Do not use standard lag bolts — they'll pull right through the thin metal. This is the wall type where we see the most failed DIY mounts.
Your wall type determines how much weight it can safely hold, but the mount type matters just as much. Visit our recommendations page for specific mount links based on your setup.
The TV sits flush against the wall. You can't move it — no swivel, no tilt. This is the simplest and most secure mount type.
Best for: Tight spaces, bedrooms, NYCHA walls.
You can angle the TV up or down. Useful when the TV is mounted higher than eye level.
Best for: Above fireplaces, above dressers in bedrooms, kitchens.
You can swivel the TV left and right, and tilt it up and down. The arm extends away from the wall so you can adjust the viewing angle from anywhere in the room.
Best for: Corner installations, open-concept apartments, rooms where you watch from multiple spots. Not recommended for NYCHA walls (walls are only ~2 inches thick).
Getting your security deposit back just requires spackling the TV mount holes and potentially painting — your building super can usually supply matching paint. Take photos of the wall before mounting for your records.
We offer a TV dismounting service ($149) that includes bracket removal and patching the screw holes with DryDex spackle. Your walls will be move-out ready.
Mounting the TV is only half the battle — the cables hanging down the wall can look worse than no mount at all. You have two main options:
Cable raceway (no wall damage): A paintable plastic channel that covers all cables. Renter-friendly, removable, and included in our TV Mounting + Cables Covered service ($199).
PowerBridge (mid-range option): A recessed power bridge lets you run cables through the wall without a full electrical outlet install. It's a great middle ground between a raceway and a full in-wall solution. We recommend the recessed outlet box specifically for LG and Samsung Frame TVs — but for other TVs, you can usually get away with just the cable-in-wall option below.
For Samsung Frame TVs, we recommend adding a half-inch or one-inch spacer behind the TV to allow airflow — without it, the TV can overheat and burn the wall over time.
In-wall cable routing (cleanest look): All cables run inside the wall with a new outlet behind the TV. Zero visible wires. This is our TV Mounting + Power Outlet + Cable in Wall service ($599). Read our full guide on how to hide TV wires without cutting your wall for all the options.
We're insured. We carry general liability and umbrella insurance. If anything happens during the job — damage to your wall, your TV, anything — we're covered. That's the single biggest reason to hire a professional over a handyman or doing it yourself.
We know your walls. NYC walls are different from the rest of the country. We know immediately whether you have plaster, concrete, metal studs, or NYCHA cinder block — and we bring the right hardware for each. This prevents 90% of failed DIY mounts.
We bring everything. Stud finders, hammer drills, toggle bolt kits, lag bolts, washers, anchors — all of it. A DIY install means buying or renting $300-500 worth of tools you may never use again.
Our TV mounting service starts at $149. Add cable management for $199 or a full in-wall power outlet for $599. Book online and we'll take care of everything.
Yes. A TV mount leaves 4 to 6 bolt holes that are easily patched with spackle and a coat of paint. Most landlords consider this normal wear and tear, especially if you repair the wall before moving out. Take before-and-after photos for your records. We've mounted TVs in 5,000+ NYC apartments — this is rarely an issue.
Metal studs are hollow and can't hold lag bolts like wood studs. We use heavy-duty SnapToggle bolts that grip the back of the metal stud and distribute the load. Standard drywall anchors and regular lag bolts will fail on metal studs — this is the most common cause of failed DIY mounts in newer NYC buildings.
Many co-op buildings require a COI from any contractor doing work in the building. We carry general liability and umbrella insurance and send COIs before or after your deposit — whichever works for your timeline. We've never been rejected in over 5,000 jobs. Just send us your building's COI template and management email address, and we handle the rest.
